3
La Stratheden come moderna slaveship It was full of disappointed returning would-be [sedicenti] Australian settlers and hopeful Indian would-be immigrants and beneath my mothers surface friendliness there was a palpable air of superiority. We were Egyptian academics come to England on a sabbatical to do Post-Doctoral Research. I wasnt post-doctoral, but it still wasnt quite the thing to play with the Indian teenagers [...] Doppia apertura ma doppia moraleDoppia apertura ma doppia morale I was summoned into my parents room, where the letter lay on the desk. It was addressed to me and had been opened. It never occurred to me to question that. [...] My parents were grave. They were disapproving. They were saddened. [...] You know youre not to be in touch with him? Yes. There were no rows, just silent, sad disapproval. Youve let us down. I never answered his letter and he never wrote again – or if he did I ever knew of it

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laltro, lalieno per antonomasia: indiano, cristiano, immigrante Christopher: laltro, lalieno per antonomasia: indiano, cristiano, immigrante. the Other as a mediator against all forms of enclosure and containment, a means to gain access to a plural world. In the same way as Ahdaf Soueif uses the Other's language to free herself of monologic discourse, so does she here hint at the possibility (more fully realized in her later fiction) of using the figure of the Other as a mediator against all forms of enclosure and containment, a means to gain access to a plural world. (Hechmi Trabelsi, Transcultural Writing: Ahdaf Soueif's Aisha as a Case Study, Université de Tunis, 2003) LAltro da sé, e lAltro come porta verso unapertura

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Potential adventure – within the set boundaries I was not troubled by the loss of Christopher. Just by the loss of a potential adventure. Anything that happened to me in those days represented a potential adventure. Every visit to the launderette was brim-full with the possibility of someone interesting noticing me. When I slipped and sprained an ankle, the projected visits to the physiotherapist seemed an avenue into adventure. But the old man massaging my foot and leering toothlessly up at me (what a pity you dont slip more often) was more an ogre than a prince and after one visit my ankle was left to heal on its own. The likelyhood of my actually arriving at an adventure was lessened by the eight-thirty p.m. curfew imposed by my parents (Even in England its not nice to be out later than that, dear). But no path of rebellion was open to me so I waited for something to happen obligingly within the set boundaries

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La Aliena, a Londra, è Aisha. from alien races, alien beliefs. Friends. The Vicar suddenly spoke. In our city today we find increasing numbers of people who come to us from far places: from alien races, alien beliefs. [...] Should any person in this congregation wish to join with us in the love of Jesus Christ, let them raise their hands now while the eyes of everyone are closed in prayer and I will seek them out later and guide them into the love of Our Lord [...] I felt excessively conscious of my alien appereance I felt excessively conscious of my alien appereance, and particularly my alien hair, as I waited to be sought and guided into the love of Jesus Christ I was a misfit [disadattata]: I had the manners of fledgling [alle prime armi] Westernised bourgeois intellectual and the soul (though no one suspected it yet but me) of a Rocker.

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Sguardo orientalista e desiderio di sottrarsiSguardo orientalista e desiderio di sottrarsi You can be excused from Assembly on grounds of being Mohammeddan, whispered the teacher who had brought me there. No fear. I wanted nothing more than to merge, to blend in silently and belong to the crowd [...] Its all right, I said. I dont mind. My attempts at fading into the masses were unsuccessful. During the first break I was taken to Susan, the Third Form leader Where you from? She was light and pale with freckles and red hair. From Egypt. Thats where they have those Pharaos and crocodiles and things, she explained to the others. Dyou go to school on a camel?.

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Lin-betweenness e la difficoltà di sottrarsi, di farsi sfondo School was a disaster. The white girls lived in a world of glamour and boyfriends to which I had no entrée. The black girls lived in a ghetto world of whispers and regarded me with suspicious dislike. I was too middle of the road for them [...] As for brilliance, I could not have chosen an unluckier subject to excel in: English. The class would have forgiven me outstanding performance in science or sports, but English? And Mrs Braithwaite [...] The Egyptian gets it every time. It takes someone from Africa, a foreigner, to teach you about your native language. You should be ashamed.

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Il 1964 tra pubblico e privato Il 1964 è lanno della rivoluzione di Aisha, che nel suo piccolo, e within the set boundaries, agisce nel privato quello che le ex-colonie dellImpero Britannico stavano facendo nel pubblico. Limportanza della musica rock. on the outside, looking inSo, here I was. It was early 64. The Beatles yelled I wanna hold your hand and shook their long, shiny black hair and their hips; the Mods and Rockers zoomed through the streets in their fancy gear; and I stood in the snow on the thirty-seven bus stop, on the outside, looking in. La musica come tentativo di attraversare confiniLa musica come tentativo di attraversare confini Music was magic to me and every day as I walked home from the bus stop I would peer through the net curtains at the juke box gleaming against the wall in the corner café. It was a dark, different world in there [...] One day I pushed open the door. [...] I was happy. When the songs were over I walked out and went home. I never told anyone about my adventure.

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Disvelamenti e illuminazioni St. Valentines Ball. All the girlsand stood grouped together at one end of the hall. At the other end were the boysIt was eight o clock as we walked into the hall. [...] All the girls were there. They were in party clothes and stood grouped together at one end of the hall. At the other end, huddled in tight, nonchalant groups in dark suits, were the boys from Wandsworth Comprehensive, our sister school. I knew now there was no hidden world, no secret society from which I was barred. There was just - nothing [...] They were all standing there, tapping their feet and hoping that the boys from Wandsworth would ask them to dance. And the boys were nervous, pretending they didnt know what they were there for... [...] I knew now there was no hidden world, no secret society from which I was barred. There was just - nothing

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Aisha! Whats the matter? Are you ill? she asked. No, I said. Well, whats the matter? Why arent you at school? Im not going to school any more. [...] But why wont you go to school? I dont want to. But why? Its just not worth it. But you liked it so much- I hated it. What on earth will your father say?...

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Una pausa culturale: Una pausa culturale: tra Est e Ovest, Aisha sceglie di prendersi cura della sua condizione di in-betweeness. E il primo passo verso il soggetto transculturale, attivamente postcoloniale, che sa abitare nel fra senza perdersi; è semplicemente se stessa, con forza e determinazione. I lived my private life and was impervious to the cold, disapproving atmosphere that pervaded the evenings [...] Every morning my parents went to the University and my sister and brother to school. I would draw up my fathers large armchair in front of the television, carry up some toast and butter, and watch the races. Or I would switch on my Phonotrix and dream. Or read. The whole house was my territory from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon and I lived my private life and was impervious to the cold, disapproving atmosphere that pervaded the evenings. After a couple of weeks they gave up.. And I passed my exam One day I discovered a secret cache of books hidden in my parents bedroom. Fanny Hill, The Perfumed Garden of Sheikh Nefzawi and the Kama Sutra. My rebellion had paid off in grand style. I spent my fifteenth year in a lotus dream, sunk in an armchair, throbbing to the beat of the Stones, reading erotica. And I passed my exam.

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Displacement theres something quite bracing about having all my possessions in the car and being of no fixed address (Asya)this trip has put off my accomodation problem for a bit – but I think Gerald and I are beyond working things out (did you know all along?) and Im going to try and find a place of my own as soon as I get back to London – although theres something quite bracing about having all my possessions in the car and being of no fixed address (Asya) It really is strange how poems work. On an Amsterdam boat- train I remember Central Park and I start a poem A month later, I add in something from today and – wow! Its there. (Mandy)It really is strange how poems work. On an Amsterdam boat- train I remember Central Park and I start a poem A month later, I add in something from today and – wow! Its there. (Mandy) Asya – Asia, nome del continente asiatico per una donna africana in Europa (significato dato da una donna Americana, Mandy).Asya – Asia, nome del continente asiatico per una donna africana in Europa (significato dato da una donna Americana, Mandy). Transculturazione.

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Doppio sguardo orientalista: da Asya a Mandy, e viceversa. Sempre nel giudizio, nella visione duale. Lady Caroline of the tiger shooting, coolie-whipping father Saif has got himself a lean-looking one too. Female, of course. And American. Yes. Im afraid the days of the Lady Caroline of the tiger shooting, coolie-whipping father are over... She looked terribly lost inside all that. It didnt suit her at all. Anyone could see he had only just bought it for her Arty-looking She was dressed up like a Linchfield ad. A Country Casual outfit that hed wanted me to buy back in 1975.... She looked terribly lost inside all that. It didnt suit her at all. Anyone could see he had only just bought it for her. Her name is Mandy. Shes the small-boned wiry NY type. Arty-looking with frizzed-out brown hair.... Hes terribly chicHe looks like a gentleman sea-captainand they, in their Bond Street outfit, looked like posh relatives come to give a poor student a treat [...]Hes terribly chic and he is in he is in a bearded phase. He looks like a gentleman sea-captain [...] and they, in their Bond Street outfit, looked like posh relatives come to give a poor student a treat [...]... she is not good enough for him She isnt pretty enough... Like a mother I thought, she is not good enough for him, which she isnt. She isnt pretty enough and she doesnt have that unawavering serenity which he needs... I think shes edgy and restless and wont be happy with him and wont make him happy. I also fear there must be some gold-digging element there because shes so obviously on the make and he looks prosperous.

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Mandy su Asya: chattel / cattle Eastern inscrutableness I never can with Eastern peopleShe met us at the station and she was so friendly I could have thrown up. Eastern inscrutableness, I guess. [...] I think shes older than me but I could not guess at her precise age: I never can with Eastern people Does the word chattel have anything to do with cattle? Maybe because the possessions of nomadic peoples would probably be livestockAll this shopping suits me fine. Hes always bought me something too. Like the outfit I was wearing this morning. I was right to wear it because its called a Ladys Travelling Outfit, and thats what I was doing – travelling [...] He doesnt mind spending his money on me. He does it like it was the most natural thing in the world. Maybe thats Eastern too: women being chattels and all that. (Does the word chattel have anything to do with cattle? Maybe because the possessions of nomadic peoples would probably be livestock.)

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Sguardi a confronto...seeing him with her today was really something: he was like some kid showing off. Showing off to his mom. And playing her up... And she all serene and beautiful – taking it all. Its sick if you ask me. (Mandy) So, she says out loud she can say ass. Well big deal Anyone can say ass. I can say it.(Asya) We see what we want to see. You see your own reflection. è il riflesso dellinconsistenza del mondo e il segno della inevitabile autoreferenzialità umana Lo sguardo di Mandy sul mondo non si posa su esseri viventi o cose, ma, è il riflesso dellinconsistenza del mondo e il segno della inevitabile autoreferenzialità umana. Distacco, saggezza o anaffettività? Dipende...dai punti di vista.

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Incomprensioni familiari e culturali Tante Adila è la suocera di Asya, madre di Saif. E in visita di riparazione – vuole salvare il matrimonio di Asya e Saif. Crede che Saif abbia lasciato Asya per unaltra. I dont understand anything. Are you both joking or what?... So my son is crazy, hes got an harmoured head [...] I know that but I also know he coud never do without you. Yes, I know theres a woman: some low creature has pulled him for two or three weeks [...] Im furious with him Asya: I mean that I love him very very much but that over the last few years weve grown apart and I dont think we love each other in the way married people should. One loves people in different ways (a Mira)

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Tante Adila non accetta la realtà, nemmeno la vede. Distoglie o sguardo per fronteggiare un mondo che non sa comprendere. Why is Asya defending him? Like this, she, Adila, finds herself attacking Saif more and more; as though the matter gnawed at his mothers heart more than at his wifes. She looks at Asya who tries to manage a small smile. She has changed. In the five years since they last met, she has changed [...] The black hair keeping more of its wave than it had never been allowed in Cairo, the skin paler, the face newly defined, as though it had been sculptured out of its old childish roundness. But above all the detachment, the holding back, to be seen in the eyes and in every stance of that slim body. Oh, child, child, whatever has happened to you? Adila Hanim turns away.

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Satan – un gattino Satan è il gattino che Clara, la nuova fiamma di Saif, ha portato in casa. Spettatore silenzioso del piccolo dramma familiare. Hi, she says. Look. Its wrong to leave that kitten there. Tante doesnt like him and Hussein is treating him badly. [...] He threw him across the room just now and practilly broke his back. I dont think you should leave him there. [...] The tears spill from her eyes and Asya turns away. Shell take the kitten. Shell go back and pick him up and take him away. It isnt right to leave Satan with these people. It simply isnt right.